In Mackinac Island: Holidays, Tourists, and Trivia, lifelong island resident Tom Chambers shares heartfelt memories and quirky insights from over 70 summers and 50 winters on Michigan's most iconic island. The book highlights how holidays-from Halloween to Christmas-are uniquely celebrated by locals, often without tourists. Chambers recounts humorous encounters with visitors, the seasonal influx of fudge lovers, and offers practical tips for enjoying the island. Rich with local trivia, the book reveals little-known stories about island carpenters, forgotten roads, nicknames, weather events, and even marshes and fruit trees. A bonus section revisits events and anecdotes left out of his first book, including the blizzard of 1978 and the wreck of the Peshtigo. Chambers' warm, conversational style and deep affection for the island make this a delightful read for anyone who loves Mackinac Island or small-town Americana. It's both a personal memoir and a rich local history.
"Tom is a true Islander, born and raised on Mackinac. He has experienced many of the holiday celebrations and how unique they were. Tom has witnessed how tourism has changed over the years. I appreciate Tom's wealth of knowledge of classic Mackinac."
-- Margaret M. Doud, Mayor of The City of Mackinac Island.
"In Mackinac Island: Holidays, Tourists, and Trivia, Tom Chambers provides a second volume of reminiscences about life on Mackinac Island from the 1940s to the 2020s. A lifelong Island resident, Tom shares great stories with an insider's perspective on Island life and activities with details that current readers and future historians will relish."
-- Phil Porter, Director Emeritus, Mackinac State Historic Parks
"Tom writes from his heart in a homespun style. For years, he's been my primary source for factual info on Mackinac. His bloodline love for the Island (and critique of the constant changes) is both sincere and profoundly fearless. Here, he bares his soul in a sincere look back at the rare traditions that nurtured and shaped his life."
-- Roger Priebe, MIDPA
Modern History Press
